Defendant Barbara Cupp, second from right, wipes her eyes as a recording of her 911 call from March 18, 2025, is played during closing arguments in her murder trial Friday in Wood County Circuit Court as, from left, Wood County Prosecutor Pat Lefebure, defense attorney George Cosenza and co-counsel Travis Sayre listen. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

PARKERSBURG – A jury today found a Belmont woman guilty of second-degree murder in the March 2025 shooting death of a 37-year-old Williamstown man with whom she had been in a relationship.

The jury deliberated about four hours this afternoon before returning the verdict.

The defendant, 33-year-old Barbara Cupp, faces 10 to 40 years in prison at sentencing, which is scheduled for May 28.

Cupp shot and killed Matthew Bills, 37, of Williamstown, on March 18, 2025. Her attorney said in his closing argument that she had acted in self-defense, while the prosecution said Cupp’s description of events didn’t match the evidence.

Cupp was also found guilty of a misdemeanor charge of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

Read more in Sunday’s edition of The Parkersburg News and Sentinel.